Customer Reviews

Yellow Moon

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Neville Brothers are an American Institution, and at least in my opinion, this CD is their best work. Aaron Neville has one of the most instantly-recognizable, and best, voices in pop music.

The Nevilles are unique in the many influences that can be heard in their music - Carribean/Reggae, Cajun, African, rock, even country and folk. On this outing, they get some NASTY rhythms going (title tune, "Fire and Brimstone," "Wild Injuns") - crank it up and GO! They also perform several "social commentary" songs - "Sister Rosa" is a tribute to Rosa Parks, who refused to give her bus seat to a white man. "With God on our Side" is about people justifying their lack of humanity by (falsely) claiming to aligned with God. "Ballad of Hollis Brown," written by Bob Dylan, is truly haunting, the story of a man who feels so desperate in his inability to care for his family that he kills them to ease their pain.

This recording is an emotional roller coaster.

If you are a seasoned Neville Brothers fan, I assume this CD is already part of your collection; if not, you could do much worse than this as an introduction.

Five stars doesn't even come close. Nothing makes me reach for the volume knob like "Yellow Moon". As one would expect, it's deeply funky. But there's another side to it that's ghostly, wistful, beautiful.

The record companies just don't know what to do with bands like the Nevilles; they seem to see the band as some cheesy New Orleans party band. The Nevilles are far, far more than that, and nothing has ever captured it like "Yellow Moon". Produced by Daniel Lanois during his residency in New Orleans, who saw them for what they really are: a living connection to the past, with threads of all the amazing stages of development in New Orleans music, from Congo Square straight back to Africa. His eerie, atmospheric production style has never had a better match. A stunning work, and possibly my favorite album of all time.

Millions of people visit New Orleans, but I'm not sure how many people truly "get" New Orleans. New Orleans is more than just Bourbon St. It's a place of magic and mystery, of ghosts and history, and it got under my skin like no place ever has. What an amazing accomplishment to capture this on record as Lanois has on Yellow Moon.

This is a typically fine album by these New Orleans legends. It contains a good mix of originals and cover songs. Several of the songs are "message" songs, inluding great covers of Sam Cooke and Bob Dylan songs. Another great cover is the Carter Family's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken". This is an all-around solid album, and fans of the Brothers should enjoy it.

I had the pleasure to get up close and person with Aaron Neville when he sang for us at a New Orleans Navy base. Believe me it's overwhelming! This beautiful, angelic voice comes from a very BIG, muscular man. The Neville brothers have always been one of my favorite groups. This is one talented family. I got this CD recently when I heard it being played at a Barnes & Noble store. I could hardly keep my feel still when I heard "Yellow Moon," and bought the CD immediately. Terrific harmony, vocals and music that are an absolute joy. I only have one problem...I can't play it when I'm driving! I just get too caught up in it when I hear "Yellow Moon," because my feet want to go. Each selection has New Orleans spice, like a delicious gumbo.

I've vacationed in New Orleans a handful of times, and nobody lives and breathes music more than this town. Nashville comes, close, but you're not going to walk down a street there and see somebody singing in the middle of the street just because they feel like it. In New Orleans this is not an uncommon occurrance. When Grammy time comes along, they also keep close tabs on how the local acts do, which I've not seen done so closely in any other city.

In this musically rich environmment, the Neville Brothers rule. But local dominance does not necessarily translate to nationwide commercial success. The band is not starving, and Aarron got some individual nationwide fame, but the brothers as a whole act have not recieved the commercial success many feel they deserve.

This album came the closest to getting them this recognition. It's a wonderful compilation of original recordings and songs borrowed from other artists that give it a commercial likeablility while holding on to the sound of New Orleans.

This work is as good as it gets when it comes to blending a commercial sound without losing your roots. The work takes you on a good tour of what the music is like in that part of the country. You get the high-spirited songs like "Yellow Moon", "Fire and Brimstone" and "Wild Injuns" that show that these folks can throw a musical party as good as anybody on the planet. But it also gets into some pretty heavy moods, which include some social statements.

An essential album for those that follow New Orleans music, and a great intro for those that want to see what it's all about.

When people say Neville Brothers, the first thing that comes to mind is New Orleans. While they will always be linked with the city, their music stretches far beyond the city limits. The album has a social conscious to it with group covering two Bob Dylan songs "With God On Our Side" & "Ballad Of Hollis Brown", a tribute to Rosa Parks in "Sister Rosa", the Sam Cooke spiritual "A Change Is Gonna Come" and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". That being said, the band is from the Crescent City and that funky New Orleans vibe permeates the album. They show off their Bayou roots on the spooky title cut and the album's closer, the jumpy "Wild Injuns". "My Blood" is a song about their family unity and it's that unity that makes the Neville Brothers such the special band that they are. Check out Yellow Moon and you will get a flavor of new Orleans and so much more.

This is the best the Neville Brothers have sounded on record. Masterful (as usual) production by Daniel Lanois. Other reviewers have called the sound of this record "Cathedral in the Swamp" and similar type things, and I suppose that gets at least part of the point across. This is deeply spiritual, highly resonant, and extremely heartfelt music that on first listen is easy to take less than 100% seriously. That would be a serious mistake. Fifteen years later, this music has shown itself to be more than just serious, but in some ways positively transcendant.

"My Blood" is a terrific song, political, almost like Bob Marley, but not overly preachy. Aaron Neville's vocals on "Yellow Moon" float very nicely atop the slithery and fonky (that's right, I said "fonky" not "funky") groove.

The Dylan and Sam Cooke covers are extremely well done; understandable for a band one of whose trademarks is "Neville-izing" classic songs. Aaron's singing on "A Change is Gonna Come" is spellbinding, and their version of "With God on Our Side" is wonderful, not to mention (seemingly) eternally timely.

You know when you buy CD and then get tired of it in a couple of months? THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE CDS

I originally heard this cd about 8 years ago and have never forgotten it. This is one that is so good the tunes will stay with you forever. Thanks Amazon for your resources. I have not been able to find this in the traditional music stores.

I'm reviewing this CD, but ANYTHING by the Neville Brothers is worth a try. This band defies description - how do you categorize a band that can do just about anything and really can't be pigeonholed. Not a bad song on this CD and the song Yellow Moon is a pure work of art. A real magical, funky, soulful Bayou song. Absolutely love it and I can listen to these guys anytime.